Algeria suicide bomber kills 16

A suicide bomber blew himself up yesterday in the middle of a crowd awaiting a visit by the Algerian president, killing 16 people and wounding at least 74, security officials said.

The attack hit the town of Batna, about 280 miles east of the capital, Algiers, the officials said. Batna was the last stop on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's trip through the east of Algeria.

The bomber struck in front of the Al-Atik mosque, 45 minutes before Mr Bouteflika's scheduled arrival.

The Algerian leader spoke briefly upon arriving at Batna airport, saying that "national concordance" was the only solution to the civil strife. He said Algeria was committed to its peace process and would forge ahead "no matter the price".

Coordinated terrorist attacks killed dozens of people on April 11, when bombs ripped through the Algerian prime minister's office and a police station in an Algiers suburb. Al-Qaida's wing in north Africa claimed responsibility for those bombings, saying they were carried out by suicide bombers in lorries packed with explosives.